page_title: MV Royal Iris
section_title: Later years
hierarchical_section_title: MV Royal Iris / Later years
caption_attribution_description: English: 1972 approaching Princes Landing Stage, Liverpool
context_page_description: The MV Royal Iris was a twin screw, diesel-electric, Mersey Ferry. The vessel was built by William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton and launched in December 1950, costing £256,000.
  The engines were produced by Ruston & Hornsby Metropolitan-Vickers. Propulsion: 4 oil 4SA, each six cylinders driving four generators, each 300 kW/300v DC-connected to two electric motors, each 730shp and 2 shafts. The maximum speed is 12 knots. Weight is 1,234 gross tonnes. Length is 159 feet long and 48 feet wide, with a draught of 9 feet.
  At least during the first decade of its life, the ship's diesel-electric propulsion made it more economical to run than the other vessels in the fleet.
context_section_description: The Royal Iris transferred to the combined fleet of the newly formed Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive on 1 December 1969, which consisted of seven vessels. 
  Despite an ongoing financial debt against the Royal Iris from when she was built, capital was made available to refit at the Harland and Wolff in Bootle in 1971-72. Sporting a new blue and white livery, it was subsequently used, almost exclusively, as a cruise vessel. A sum of £68,000 was also provided for a new steak bar and dining area, replacing the original fish and chip saloon. Up until this refit, it had carried two side slung lifeboats on davits which were removed leaving just a single lifeboat slung from the stern.
  Whilst docked for the annual survey on 12 January 1975, a fire broke out in the engine room, causing extensive electrical damage.
  On 21 June 1977, the Royal Iris carried  the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on their Silver Jubilee Mersey Review.
  The ship was used by Granada Television during the summer of 1980 as the setting for the ITV Saturday morning children's television series The Mersey Pirate. For this purpose, a dome structure was built on the promenade deck of the vessel.
  During 1984 the Royal Iris and the other three Mersey Ferries received the red, white and blue livery to mark the 1984 International Garden Festival at Otterspool. In April and May 1985 the vessel left Liverpool Bay for the first time since the delivery from Scotland. It was sent on a 1500-mile round trip to London on a publicity drive for Merseyside, sailing around Land's End, up the River Thames and under Tower Bridge, docking adjacent to HMS Belfast.
caption: 1972 approaching Princes Landing Stage, Liverpool
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